Railway crossing and signaling system and method

ABSTRACT

What is disclosed is a system and method of providing notice to traffic on a roadway that a railway vehicle traveling on a railway is approaching an intersection between the railway and the roadway. The system uses road modules and/or light strips embedded in or on the surface of the railway. A processor is configured to cause the road modules and/or light strips to illuminate and/or flash. The processor is configured to send the signal to the road module(s) and/or light strip(s) in response to a signal from a transmitter and/or sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

PRIORITY/CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/643,951, filed Mar. 16, 2018 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/660,829, filed Apr. 20, 2018, the contents ofeach of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed technology generally relates to the field ofroad safety, and more particular embodiments relate to systems ormethods of signaling and managing traffic.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The purpose of the summary is to enable the public, and especially thescientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosureof the application. The summary is neither intended to define theinventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by theclaims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of theinventive concept(s) in any way.

The invention pertains generally to roadway signaling. More specificallythe idea pertains to a method of providing in-road modules and/or one ormore light strips that illuminate, change color and/or flash in order toalert a vehicle traveling on a roadway that a railway vehicle isapproaching the intersection.

The method preferably includes the step of providing a plurality of roadmodules and/or one or more light strips. In a preferred embodiment theroad modules and/or light strips comprise a plurality of lights thereto.In a further preferred embodiment the lights are LED lights and/oranother type of light emitting source. The road modules and/or one ormore light strips include a light configured for illumination andde-illumination. The road modules and/or one or more light strips areembedded in and/or affixed to the surface of a road proximate to anintersection between a railway and a roadway. The road modules and/orone or more light strips can be embedded in or affixed to a road surfacewithin the roadway lanes of travel or proximate to lines or stripingdelineating roadway traffic lanes. The road modules and/or light stripscan be embedded in or affixed to the road surface spanning a partiallane of travel, a complete lane of travel, or across the entire roadway.Two or more light strips can be positioned adjacent to one another in alane to provide the appearance of a continuous light strip. A road isdefined herein to mean any surface on which vehicles, automobiles,bicycles, or pedestrians travel, including but not limited to walkingpaths, roads, and bicycle paths. The road modules and/or one or morelight strips include a receiver configured for communicating with aprocessor. The receiver can be a transceiver. The road modules and/orone or more light strips are configured to illuminate, change color,and/or flash in response to a communication from the processor. Morethan one processor can be utilized to communicate to the road modulesand/or light strip(s).

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of interactingwith existing railway transmitters and/or sensors that detect anapproaching train and trigger warnings, such as alarm bells, to alert avehicle traveling on the roadway that a railway vehicle is approachingthe intersection. Alternatively a railway vehicle can be configured witha transmitter or tracker that provides a signal that is sensed ordetected by the sensor. Alternatively the processor can receive a signalfrom an independent source such as a detection device or sensorconfigured to detect that the railway vehicle is approaching andcommunicate to the road modules and/or one or more light strips to causethe road modules and/or one or more light strips to illuminate and/orflash. Multiple sensors can further be utilized to determine theapproach of a railway vehicle. Alternatively the method includes atleast one sensor configured for detection of an approaching railwayvehicle, such as a train, and/or configured to sense when a vehicle,pedestrian or other traveler is approaching the intersection. The sensorcan be separate from or integral with the processor(s) of the system.The sensor can be configured by a variety of mechanisms, including butnot limited to laser, radar, video analytics, RFID, loop detectionsensor, electrical circuit sensors positioned on the railway tracks, orany other sensor.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of providing atleast one processor configured for wireless and/or wired communicationwith the sensor. The processor is further configured for wireless and/orwired communication with the plurality of road modules and/or one ormore light strips. The road modules and/or one or more light strips haveone or more lights that can illuminate, de-illuminate, flash and/orchange color. The processor is configured to communicate to the roadmodules and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, change color,and/or flash upon signal from the processor. The processor is configuredto communicate a signal to the road modules and/or one or more lightstrips when a railway vehicle is traveling on the railway and approachesthe intersection of the roadway and the railway. The processor can beconfigured to communicate with the roadway modules and/or one or morelight strips wirelessly or in wired communication. The roadway modulesand/or one or more light strip(s) can be configured to be wired forpower, wireless power, receive wireless power if such technology becomesavailable, or powered by a battery, ultra capacitor, and/or powergenerator, such as a solar power generator or generator configured forharvesting vibrational energy from vehicles on the roadway and/orrailway, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment a solarcollector is positioned proximate to the railway crossing to providepower to the road modules and/or light strips. The modules can bepowered in series, in parallel, or independently. The modules can eachbe configured to receive a signal from the process or can be wired inseries or parallel. In a further preferred embodiment the solarcollector is connected to an energy storage device, such as a battery,that stores energy for future use by the system.

The processor can be configured to receive a signal from pre-existingrailway sensors and/or transmitters in order to retrofit pre-existingsystems. In this embodiment the method includes the step of configuringthe processor for communication with the pre-existing transmitter and/orsensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts an intersection having an embodiment of a railway vehicledetection system utilizing road modules and light strips embedded in thesurface of the road.

FIG. 2 depicts an intersection having an embodiment of a railway vehicledetection system utilizing road modules and light strips embedded in thesurface of the road in which the road modules and/or light strips areflashing to warn roadway traffic of an approaching railway vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible ofvarious modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustratedembodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will bedescribed below in detail. It should be understood, however, that thereis no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific formdisclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope ofthe inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a railway 4 intersection with a roadway 2. Theroadway 2 approaches the railroad tracks 4 and continues 20 after therailway intersection. A vehicle 16 is shown approaching theintersection. FIG. 1 depicts a sign 8 indicating to the vehicle that itis approaching the intersection. The roadway has road modules and/or oneor more light strips 10, 12, 14 embedded in or affixed to the surface ofthe lane of travel of the vehicle 16 approaching the intersection. Thedepicted roadway includes road modules and/or one or more light strips19, 21 embedded in, affixed to the road surface with the roadway lanesof traffic and proximate to the lines designating travel lanes on theroadway, including in dashed line 18. Road modules and/or one or morelight strips can be also be provided in the roadway 20 on the oppositeside of the railway tracks. A solar power generator such as a solarpanel and battery is depicted as box 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle approaching the intersection when a railwayvehicle 22 is traveling through the intersection. When the railwayvehicle 22, in the depicted embodiment a train locomotive, approachesthe intersection a sensor 24 detects the railway vehicle. Alternativelya transmitter on a railway vehicle can be configured to transmitinformation to the processor of the approaching railway vehicle. Thesensor signals or communicates to a processor that the railway vehicleis approaching the intersection. In the depicted embodiment theprocessor can be integral with the sensor or integral with the roadmodules and/or one or more light strips. The sensor can be configured tosense a tag or receive a signal from a transmitter 26 positioned on orin the railway vehicle. Alternatively the processor can be configured toreceive a signal from a transmitter positioned on or in the railwayvehicle.

When the railway vehicle 22 approaches the intersection the processordirects the roadway modules and/or one or more light strips 28, 30, 32positioned in or on the roadway lane of travel to illuminate, flash,and/or change color to alert any approaching vehicle 38 of the railwayvehicle. The processor also directs roadway modules and/or one or morelight strips positioned in or on the lines delineating roadway lanes oftravel to flash, change color and/or illuminate.

FIG. 2 further depicts a cross section 32 of the roadway showing atypical road having a base and pavement. The cross section depicts lightstrips positioned in channels of the roadway. The light strips are shownin an illuminated and/or flashing mode. The light strips and/or roadmodules can be positioned proximate to the center line depicted in theroadway or spaced apart from it.

The sensor can be positioned and configured to also sense when avehicle, pedestrian, or other traveler is traveling on the roadway isapproaching the intersection. Alternatively a second or more sensors canbe utilized to sense when a vehicle, pedestrian, or other travelertraveling on the roadway is approaching the intersection. The processorcan be configured to utilize the signals regarding the approach of therailway vehicle and the approach of the roadway vehicle to causeillumination, flashing, and/or changing of color of the roadway modulesand/or one or more light strips such that illumination, flashing and/orchanging of color occurs when both roadway vehicle(s) and railwayvehicle(s) are present. This optionally can allow the system to savepower.

In a preferred embodiment the system and method include utilizing aheater, heating apparatus, or heating system to melt snow and iceaccumulating on the road modules and/or light strips. A heater canfurther be utilized to melt snow from the sensor and/or from a the powergenerator such as a solar collector or vibrational energy harvester. Theheater can utilize a heating element, such as heating wires, or can be afilm or other material configured to general heat from an electricalelement or chemical reaction. The heating element can be powered by thepower source powering the light system or by a separate power source.This could include an alternating current source such as a power grid oran energy storage system.

While certain preferred embodiments are shown in the figures anddescribed in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that thepresently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but maybe variously embodied to practice within the scope of the followingclaims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for alerting a roadway traveler to arailway vehicle approaching the intersection of a railway and a roadway,said system comprising: at least one road module and/or one or morelight strips embedded in or on a roadway, said road module comprising alight; at least one processor, wherein said processor is configured tocommunicate via wireless and/or wired communication to said road moduleand/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash and/or change colorin response to a railway vehicle approaching said intersection of arailway and a roadway.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processoris configured to receive a signal from a transmitter positioned on or ina railway vehicle and/or a pre-existing railway or independent sensorconfigured to detect an approaching railway vehicle.
 3. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising and/or said system comprises a sensorconfigured for communication with said processor, wherein said sensor isconfigured to sense the presence of a railway vehicle approaching saidintersection and to communicate a signal to said processor that arailway vehicle is approaching the intersection.
 4. The system of claim1, wherein said road modules and/or light strips are configured toreceive wireless communication from said processor.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to wirelessly communicatewith said processor.
 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising aplurality of sensors.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processorand said sensor are integral.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein saidsystem comprises a heater, heating system, or heating apparatusconfigured to melt snow from said system.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein said system is configured to be powered by a power sourceselected from the group consisting of a power grid, a solar powersystem, and a vibrational energy harvesting system.
 10. A method ofalerting a roadway traveler to a railway vehicle approaching theintersection of a railway and a roadway, said method comprising thefollowing steps: the step of providing at least one road module and/orone or more light strips embedded in or on the surface of a roadway,said road module and/or one or more light strips comprising a light; thestep of providing a processor in communication with a transmitter and/orsensor, wherein said processor is configured to communicate to said roadmodule and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash and/orchange color in response to a railway vehicle approaching saidintersection of a railway and a roadway; the step of said transmitter orsensor transmitting a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle isapproaching said intersection and said processor causing said roadmodule and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash, and/orchange color in response to said signal from said transmitter and/orsaid sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching said intersection. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein said method comprises the step ofconfiguring said processor to interact with pre existing railway orindependent devices configured to transmit a signal of the presence ofan approaching railway vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein saidmethod comprises the step of providing a sensor, wherein said sensor isconfigured for communication with said processor, wherein said sensor isconfigured to sense the presence of a railway vehicle approaching saidintersection and to communicate a signal to said processor that arailway vehicle is approaching the intersection.
 13. The method of claim10, wherein the processor can be configured to communicate with acomputer located onboard a vehicle.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinsaid computer located onboard a vehicle is an autonomous vehicle. 15.The method of claim 10, wherein said step of providing a sensorcomprises providing a sensor configured for wireless communication withsaid processor.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein said step ofproviding a processor comprises providing a processor having an integralsensor.
 17. The method of claim 10 wherein said method comprises thestep of providing a solar power generator and battery or ultra-capacitorconfigured to power said roadway modules and/or said light strips. 18.The method of claim 10, wherein said method comprises the step ofproviding a heater, heating apparatus, or heating system configured tomelt snow from said roadway modules and/or said light strip(s).
 19. Themethod of claim 10, wherein said system is configured to be powered by apower source selected from the group consisting of a power grid, a solarpower system, and a vibrational energy harvesting system.